WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:04.960 Life is hard. It's not easy. Why because this isn't heaven. 2 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.759 This is Earth. Everything on this planet's broken. Is there 3 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:09.640 pleasure on Earth? 4 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:10.359 Of course? There is? 5 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:13.000 Are there happy times on Earth? Of course there are 6 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:15.640 are there moments of joy on Earth. 7 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:16.000 Yes. 8 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:19.480 Are there times when things are going great? Yes, But 9 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:24.000 as a general rule, life is hard. You're not on 10 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.120 easy street. Everything in life you have to struggle for, 11 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:30.039 you have to work for. It's not easy. This is 12 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:34.640 intentional and you're learning through the school of character development, 13 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:37.640 the character that you're going to carry with you into heaven. 14 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:40.840 The Bible says this, look here on the screen, it's 15 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:44.799 not on your outline. Romans, Chapter eight. Since we are 16 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:50.159 his children, God's children, we will share in his treasures. 17 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:52.200 In other words, we get the inheritance. If you're in 18 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:56.479 a family, you inherit the family treasures. For everything God 19 00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:01.359 gives to his son Christ is ours too. But here's 20 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:06.200 the butt. But if we are to share his glory, 21 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.000 we must also share his suffering. I don't like that part. 22 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:13.400 Let's just cut that part out of the Bible. Okay, 23 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:16.640 just forget that part. No, it says, if you're going 24 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:18.719 to share in his glory, then you're going to share 25 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:22.599 in his suffering. No no, God's no glory, no no pain, 26 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:25.439 no gain. And they said this is part of life. 27 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:28.599 Don't be surprised. And when life gets hard, you need 28 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:32.879 to remember the reward. Romans eight twenty eight says in 29 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:35.319 all things, God works for the good of those who 30 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:38.120 love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. 31 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:44.319 Number five, the fifth step in the marathon to maturity 32 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:48.200 is I must gather a team to run with me. 33 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:54.799 I gather a team to run with me. Now it's 34 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:58.400 your race, and nobody can run your race, but people 35 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:02.120 can support you in your race. And what is helpful 36 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:05.760 is that in your life, at different stages of the race, 37 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:09.759 you're going to need different people to run along with you. 38 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:12.840 Nobody is going to run your entire life with you, 39 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:16.639 because even if you married, there were years that you 40 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:17.680 didn't know that person. 41 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:19.960 But at different stages. 42 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:23.240 In life, you have people running with you through life, 43 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:26.800 helping you, encouraging you, supporting you. That's called a small group. 44 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:30.400 If you don't have anybody running with you, you're. 45 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:31.639 Not going to make it to the end of the race. 46 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:34.479 You're going to give up, you're going to discourage and 47 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:36.960 you're not going to become the woman you were intended 48 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:42.039 to be. You're not going to become the man God 49 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:45.479 created you to be. You need some other people in 50 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:48.960 your life who were encouraging you, spurring you on, helping 51 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.680 you run your race. You know, I've been to Africa 52 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:56.080 many many times. As an old parable or proverb in 53 00:02:56.120 --> 00:03:00.319 Africa that says, to run fast, run by your self, 54 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:07.280 but to run far, run with other people. Hebrews chapter 55 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:12.719 ten says this, Let us consider how we may spur 56 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:16.800 one another on to love and to good deeds. Spur 57 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:20.319 that means encourage. How do we encourage each other to 58 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:24.039 do the right thing? Let us not give up meeting together. 59 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:26.680 Let's talk about a small group as some are in 60 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:29.360 the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another 61 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:33.039 as you see the day as approaching. Why do some 62 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.039 people not make it to the finish line? Why do 63 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:39.879 we get stuck? Why do we stop growing? Why do 64 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:43.120 we settle for second best and less than God's plan 65 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:45.879 in our life? Why do we cop out and give up? 66 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:47.639 One reason? 67 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:49.360 Fear? 68 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:52.560 It's fear, and a lot of times we don't even 69 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.560 realize how fearful we are. But what we think is 70 00:03:57.159 --> 00:04:01.520 I am so afraid of failing. I'm so afraid that 71 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.680 I won't be able to measure up. I'm so afraid 72 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:09.159 that I can't keep this commitment. I won't even try. 73 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:13.759 And it is fear that causes you to miss God's 74 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:17.759 best for your life. But when you belong to a 75 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:21.560 small group, and that small group believes in you, and 76 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:25.439 that small group loves you, then when you are beloved 77 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:28.600 and you belong you can become and. 78 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:31.360 They give you the courage to do things. 79 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:36.319 Having a small group who loves you unconditionally gives you 80 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.839 the courage to start the race, gives you the courage 81 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:42.680 to stay in the race, gives you the courage to 82 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:45.600 finish the race, and gives you the courage. 83 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:46.360 To get up and start over. 84 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:50.199 When you stumbled and really screwed it up, they say, 85 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:53.120 you can do this, you can do it now. 86 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:54.800 That is a safe place. 87 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:56.959 When you get in a small group where people love 88 00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:57.920 you unconditionally. 89 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:59.399 That doesn't happen overnight. 90 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:03.759 A small group doesn't become safe in three weeks or 91 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:06.000 five weeks or six weeks. 92 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:07.360 It takes time. 93 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.759 As you begin to learn to know these people that 94 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:13.800 you begin to trust them. You know their weaknesses, they 95 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:16.160 know yours. You begin to be more open. You say 96 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:18.560 I really had a tough time today, and you begin 97 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:23.120 to have more openness with them because you're safe. Then 98 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:26.600 you can grow. I am in a very safe small group. 99 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:28.600 But it didn't happen overnight. 100 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:31.639 Okay. Number six, This is a big one. 101 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:34.600 When you're running the race of life, you need to 102 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:38.079 realize God is cheering. 103 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:39.319 Me at every stage. 104 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:43.319 I need to realize when I'm running a race of 105 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:46.560 life to become the man or the woman God wants 106 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:49.079 you to be, that God is cheering me at every 107 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:53.040 stage of life. Some of you have the mistaken idea 108 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:56.480 that God only smiles at you when you do things right, 109 00:05:58.120 --> 00:05:58.720 or that God. 110 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:01.959 Only smiles that you want. Once you've reached the finish line. 111 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:05.079 Once you've arrived at maturity, then God is going to 112 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:08.680 like you. But until you become spiritually mature, God doesn't 113 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:13.040 have any time of day for you. You're dead wrong. Nobody 114 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:17.279 shames a baby for not knowing how to read, You dumb, 115 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:22.560 dumb baby. You don't expect a baby to be able 116 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.720 to read. Nobody shames a ten year old for not 117 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:27.560 knowing how to drive or balance. 118 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:29.959 A check book, You dumb ten year old. 119 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:34.240 No, no, you know what is appropriate for that stage 120 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:36.959 of growth. When my grandkids draw me a picture and 121 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:40.000 they bring it to me, I say that's perfect. I'm 122 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:43.600 not saying it's a Picasso. I'm saying it's perfect for 123 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:48.800 that stage of their development. God smiles at you at 124 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:52.360 every stage of your development. He's not waiting for you 125 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:54.879 to get to a certain level of maturity before he 126 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:58.519 says you're okay. You're already okay in his eyes, because 127 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:03.120 Christ died for you. Nobody shames a baby for not 128 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:06.560 being mature, and you need to not be ashamed at 129 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:09.800 whatever stage of spiritual growth you are in right now. 130 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.120 A lot of times we secretly thinking, man, I should 131 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.600 be further along than this, given my age, I should 132 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.920 be a lot more mature. I shouldn't have these problems anymore. 133 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:23.480 I mean, I'm this number of years old. Why am 134 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:25.600 I still having this hang up? Why am I still 135 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:28.199 having this problem? Why am I still having this difficulty? 136 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:31.120 And we start shaming ourselves because we think God is 137 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:35.079 ashamed of us. God is not ashamed of you. There's 138 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:38.920 no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Now, 139 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:41.360 why is this important that you realize that God is 140 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:44.759 cheering you at every stage of your life, because the 141 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:48.680 major reason you don't become the man you're supposed to be. 142 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:52.519 Is shame. Is shame. 143 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:56.759 And what happens is, instead of admitting that we don't 144 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.000 have it all together, we spend all of our time 145 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:02.920 and energy trying to pretend that we have it all together. Philippians, 146 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:07.360 Chapter three. In the Bible, Paul, this is the guy 147 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.000 who wrote most of the New Testament part of the Bible. 148 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:14.600 Paul says this, Saint Paul, I don't mean to say 149 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:18.040 that I have already achieved these things or that I've 150 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:21.040 already reached perfection. Women, this is the guy who wrote 151 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:23.879 the Bible, and he's going, hey, I don't have it together. 152 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:27.040 I'm not saying I've already achieved all this. I'm not 153 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:29.959 saying I've already done all this. I'm not saying I'm perfect. 154 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:30.279 He's not. 155 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:32.840 He say, thank God, I'm not what I used to be, 156 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:36.480 and I am what I am. Thank God, I'm not 157 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:37.200 what I'm going to be. 158 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:38.039 One day. 159 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.320 I don't have it already achieved these things. I haven't 160 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:46.360 already gotten the perfection. But he says, I keep working 161 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:52.159 toward that day when I will finally be all that 162 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.799 Christ saved me for and wants me. 163 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:56.799 To be one day. 164 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:58.799 I keep I'm going to be what God wants to be, 165 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.840 the man God wants to be. One day, I'll be that, 166 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:05.440 he says. I'm still not there. I'm still not all 167 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:11.000 I should be. But I am focusing on all my 168 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.879 energies on this one thing. I forget to pass. You know, 169 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:18.960 all those dumb decisions. It really messed me up. It's gone. 170 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:21.159 My past is passed. I'm going to forget the past. 171 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:26.679 Forgetting the past, looking forward to what lies ahead. I 172 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:33.159 strain to reach the end of the race and receive 173 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:38.320 the prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling. 174 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:42.039 There's that word, the third calling to become, is calling 175 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:45.480 us up to heaven. So they just keep on going. 176 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.120 I don't have it all together, but I keep straining ahead. 177 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:49.360 Now. 178 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:52.799 God is cheering you at every stage of the race. 179 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:57.039 Those of you are parents. Have you ever watched your 180 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.000 child run a race at school? 181 00:09:59.440 --> 00:09:59.679 Yes? 182 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:06.320 At what point did you start cheering them when they 183 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:11.039 crossed the finish line? No, you start cheering your kids 184 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:16.519 the moment they started the race, When the whistle was 185 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:18.799 blown and the gun was shot, and they'd get out 186 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:19.519 of the starting box. 187 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:23.120 You're going, let's go, let's go, let's go. You could 188 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:24.120 do it, You could do it. 189 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:27.519 You're cheering them at every stage of the race. 190 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:31.559 God is doing that with you right now. 191 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.960 Hey, would you like to go deeper with Pastor Rick 192 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:46.120 to discover God's purpose in your life? Well now you 193 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:49.840 can with the video based study kit called What on 194 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:53.240 Earth Am I here for? This life changing study is 195 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:57.279 taught by Rick and includes a workbook and six video sessions. 196 00:10:57.559 --> 00:10:58.720 As you go through. 197 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:02.080 These lessons, you'll embark on a journey of discovery to 198 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:06.480 answer life's most fundamental question, What on Earth am I 199 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:09.679 here for? You'll learn that it's only in God that 200 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.279 we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, 201 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:17.399 our significance, and our destiny. 202 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.039 Every other path. 203 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:22.120 Leads to a dead end. This resource is packed with 204 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:26.840 biblically centered principles and is perfect for personal or small 205 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:30.120 group study. So be sure to request this study kit 206 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.759 when you give a gift to Daily Hope to help 207 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:36.200 share the hope of Jesus with a hurting world. We'll 208 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:39.480 send it to you today as our way of saying thanks. 209 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:45.360 God is sharing you every moment, and when you stumble, 210 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.840 he cheers more. Come on, I know you can do it. 211 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:51.279 I know you can do it. I believe I made you, 212 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.000 I created you, I died for you. 213 00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:56.279 I love you. I've got to put my spirit in 214 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:00.919 your life. And he cheers even louder. You need to 215 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:03.879 never forget that truth number seven. 216 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:07.240 If you're gonna make it to the finish line and 217 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:09.720 be the woman God wants you to be, be the 218 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:13.000 man God wants you to be. I must take every 219 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:19.919 step with purpose, Take every step with purpose. Now, I'll 220 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:22.159 tell you I didn't do this for a lot of 221 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:24.879 years in my life. But I don't want to waste 222 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.360 any step anymore. I don't want to waste any energy anymore. 223 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.759 I don't want to waste any word anymore. I don't 224 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:33.519 want to waste any breath, any step because I don't 225 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:37.559 know how many steps I have left. 226 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:40.799 You don't either. You don't know if you're going to 227 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:44.039 live a week, a month, a year, or what. You 228 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:44.480 don't know. 229 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:48.159 So whatever steps you're going to take, you better do 230 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:52.240 them on purpose. And you need to be more disciplined, 231 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:55.799 and you need to be more self controlled, and you 232 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:58.440 need to take every step and every moment in your 233 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:04.200 life with purpose. Now, if you're gonna become the person 234 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:08.639 God wants you to be, that's the third calling in life. 235 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:11.120 I'll be honest with you, there are some things you're 236 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:14.960 gonna have to deny yourself. You're not gonna get to 237 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:18.480 do everything that everybody else does, because if you. 238 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:23.360 Want to be God's woman, God's man. 239 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:25.320 You want to be what you're created to be, you 240 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:27.519 just can't go out and do everything what everybody else does. 241 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.399 As I said, you can't follow their plan and your 242 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:33.639 planing God's plan all the same time, anybody who trains 243 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.799 for the Olympics gives up an enormous amount of things 244 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:40.039 to be a winner. They eat a certain way, they 245 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:42.000 go to bed at a certain time, they don't do 246 00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:44.720 certain things, And you're gonna have to deny yourself. You 247 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:48.080 just can't tack on God's purpose to what you want 248 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:51.879 to do with your life. It's planned A or plan B. 249 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:55.080 And so you have to say, I'm gonna have to 250 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:59.039 be disciplined. I'm gonna have to take every step on purpose. 251 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:03.559 Saint Paul, you have to be purpose driven. Look at 252 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:09.639 this next verse one Corinthians nine. All athletes practice strict 253 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:11.440 self control. In other words, to be a win you 254 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:14.120 get in the Super Bowl, you gotta discipline yourself. 255 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:15.759 They do it. 256 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.480 They do all this self discipline, self control. They do 257 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:21.799 it to win a prize. It'll fade away, But we 258 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:26.879 do it for an eternal prize in heaven. So I 259 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:31.919 run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. 260 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:36.360 I'm not like a boxer who misses his punches. Paul says, 261 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:40.120 I'm way beyond the years of shadow boxing. If I'm 262 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:42.559 gonna take a punch, I'm gonna make sure it lands. 263 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:45.600 I'm not just out there beating the air. I'm not 264 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:48.279 just shadow boxing. I'm not wasting my time. I'm not 265 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:50.559 wasting my life. If I'm gonna land a punch, I'm 266 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:53.840 gonna make sure it has contact. And if I'm going 267 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.840 to take a step, I'm gonna make sure it has 268 00:14:55.879 --> 00:15:00.440 a step of purpose in my life. That's how you 269 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:03.720 get to the finish line. Hebrews, the Book of Hebrews, 270 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:06.960 gives us more advice. Back to chapter twelve Hebrews twelve, 271 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:11.159 Verse thirteen, twelve and thirteen says this because God knows 272 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.399 you're going to get tired in the marathon of life. 273 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:20.840 He says lift up your tired hands then and strengthen 274 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:23.639 your trembling knees. In other words, when you feel like 275 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:26.639 I can't go on, I'm out of energy, I'm out 276 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:29.600 of gas, he says, you just ask God for more strength. 277 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:35.720 Keep walking when you're going through hell, what do you do? 278 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.120 You keep going. You don't want to stay in hell. 279 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:40.600 When you're going through hell. You keep walking. When you're 280 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:42.799 walking through hell, you keep walking. And he says, keep 281 00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:47.840 walking on straight paths, circle straight paths. We'll come back 282 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:52.200 to that. So that your lame foot circle that lame 283 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:55.399 foot will come back to that may not be disabled, 284 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:02.519 but instead be healed. In the race of life, we 285 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:08.840 all run with a limp. Every one of us have limps. 286 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.840 I just said it early. You have some emotional limps. 287 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.399 Your emotion don't always work right. You have some relational limps. 288 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:20.200 You have some weaknesses in your relationships. You have some 289 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:24.519 physical limps. Your body doesn't always work right. You have 290 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:27.080 some spiritual limps. You're not as strong spiritually as you 291 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:31.240 could be. You have some financial limps. You don't have 292 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:33.759 the money that you could have. 293 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.960 You have all. 294 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:40.000 Kinds of limps. Everybody walks through life with a limp. Now, 295 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:43.159 if I have a natural limp, i'd better stay on 296 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:45.679 the straight path, because if I get on a crooked 297 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.879 path with a natural limp, I'm more likely to stumble. 298 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:51.960 And if I get on a rocky path with a 299 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:55.480 natural limp, I'm more likely to fall. If I get 300 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:58.600 on a crooked path and a mountain path, then I'm 301 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:02.480 gonna stumble because I have natural limp, a bent to fall. 302 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:06.240 Now there's one last step, and this is my favorite 303 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.400 one of all. 304 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.920 It touches me deeply. 305 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.799 The a thing that the Bible teaches us about the 306 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:18.079 race of life is this, I need to realize that 307 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:24.279 what I don't finish, God will. What I don't finish, 308 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:27.079 what I don't get finished in my life, God will. 309 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:31.279 I was created to become like Christ. But if I 310 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:35.680 don't get there and there's still some remaining parts left, 311 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:41.000 God is going to complete the character development in my 312 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:46.000 life one day, and He's going to finish it and 313 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:50.039 bring me to perfection, bring me to completion into heaven. 314 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:53.960 Philippians chapter one says this, this is a great promise. 315 00:17:55.720 --> 00:18:00.599 I am sure that God, who began the good work 316 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.119 within you, will continue his work. 317 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.920 It's his work. 318 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:09.119 He will continue his work in you until it is 319 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:10.799 finally finished. 320 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:12.960 Circle that finally finished. 321 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:20.759 On that day when Christ Jesus comes back again, Friends, 322 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:25.359 what a day that is going to be. What a 323 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.680 day when you either go into heaven or he comes 324 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:32.400 here either one. What a day that's gonna be. Because 325 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:36.240 on that day when you see Jesus Christ, you don't 326 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.519 see him right now face to face. 327 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.519 He's invisible to you. 328 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:41.640 But when you see him face to face, every mirror 329 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:44.839 neuron in your body, in your brain is gonna start 330 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:49.960 go on overload mirror neuron and you are going to 331 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:55.000 be transformed to become like him. All your weakness is gone, 332 00:18:57.319 --> 00:19:04.920 all your limps gone, all your fears and faults gone, 333 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:13.200 all your failures and frailties gone, all of your insecurities gone, 334 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:19.000 all of your blemishes and flaws gone. And you will 335 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:24.200 be transformed into perfection one day and those mirror neurons 336 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:27.960 are going to be un overload, and you will reflect 337 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:28.839 the glory of the Lord. 338 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:32.240 That is such good news. I'm not. 339 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:37.960 Who I ought to be, You're not who you ought 340 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.039 to be. We're not a fraction of what we could be. 341 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:46.640 But God says, that's okay. I'm taking my time. I'm 342 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:50.599 cheering you at every stage. You just take every step 343 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:54.119 with purpose, because one day I'm going to finish what 344 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:58.400 you didn't finish, and you're going to be changed boom 345 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:03.000 instantly into mind likeness if you have put yourself in 346 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:08.279 my hands first John three to two. It's an amazing promise. 347 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:16.799 Dear friends, dear dear friends, we are already God's children, 348 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:24.680 and we can't even imagine what we will be like. 349 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:30.599 When Christ returns, but we do know. 350 00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:40.119 That when he comes, we will be like him, for 351 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:45.000 we shall see Him as he really is. And what 352 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:49.759 I don't finish in my lifetime, God is going to finish. 353 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:54.000 I am so so glad for that. In this race, 354 00:20:54.359 --> 00:21:02.039 you may have stumbled, We've all been there. In this race, 355 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:08.680 you may have been sidelined, We've all been there. But 356 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:14.359 your race is not over. It's not your heart's still beaten. See, 357 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:17.200 your race isn't over. And it's never too late to 358 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.880 get back up and get in the race again. And 359 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:24.000 as your pastor, I am committed to helping you cross 360 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:29.599 the finish line. It's never too late, You're never too old. 361 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.960 It's time to get back up and get in the race. 362 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:43.119 That's bower heads. Now each week I give you one 363 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:45.880 or two baby steps as a suggestion, and I don't 364 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:48.160 know what baby step you're going to take out of 365 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:51.839 this message, but I want to begin with a prayer, 366 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:56.319 and I want you to follow me in this prayer. Say, 367 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:59.400 Dear God, just say that in your mind. Dear God, 368 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:06.319 for the first time today, I have realized that you 369 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:12.319 are cheering me at every stage in the race, and 370 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:17.319 when I stumble, you don't condemn me. You cheer me 371 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:25.519 more that you believe in me. I want to take 372 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:28.640 every step with purpose. I don't want to waste one 373 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.839 day of the rest. 374 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:31.559 Of my life. I've done too much of that. 375 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:36.000 I want to accept the third purpose of my life, 376 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:41.559 my calling to become like Jesus, and I'm willing to 377 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:47.680 take these steps. I want to lay off, strip off 378 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:50.200 the stuff that doesn't matter in my life, the stuff 379 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:54.240 that slows me down, holds me back, especially the sins 380 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:57.480 that trip me up. I want to simplify my life 381 00:22:57.640 --> 00:23:01.880 and focus on the particular race that you have given 382 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:07.480 to me. I'm so grateful that you're patient with me. 383 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:11.559 Help me to not get into hurry. I want to 384 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:17.160 be an oak tree, not a mushroom, and so I 385 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:20.200 want to spend time with you so I can become 386 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:26.119 like you. I want to find a special place to 387 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:30.759 spend a few minutes every day focusing on Jesus so 388 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:34.119 that I can be a mirror that reflects your love 389 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:41.079 to others. And Lord, when it gets hard and I'm 390 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:44.640 winded and I feel like giving up, help. 391 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:46.200 Me to remember the reward. 392 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:49.519 Help me to remember, Jesus, all that you went through 393 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.960 and you never gave up. 394 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:54.839 Thank you make me strong. 395 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:58.599 Give me the support, keep me from falling as you've promised. 396 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:03.079 Help me to find a team to run with me 397 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:07.039 at this next stage of my life. I want to 398 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:09.160 get in a small group. I want to build a 399 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:12.039 safe place for others. I want to spur others on, 400 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:18.079 and I want them to spur me on. Most of all, 401 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:22.240